Winter Berries, A Tutorial

Well, it took me a month, but I finally got around to making another "Winter Berries" crochet covered stone and documenting the process to share with you.



Supplies



a smooth round rock
white, brown and red or burgundy fine gauge crochet thread
small gauge crochet hook (I used size 8 for this rock)
tapestry needle and scissors

Step 1



Using white crochet thread, make a chain and join to form circle with a slip stitch. The circle should fit inside your rock. I worked with multiples of 6 for this project, so my circle was a chain of 60.



Round 1: Chain 2, dc (double crochet) in next five chains, chain 1. *dc in next six chains, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.



Round 2: dc in next four stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, chain 1. *skip one stitch, dc in next five stitches, 2 dc in next stitch, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Skip one stitch and slip stitch to the first dc. Chain 2.

After two rows, I started decreasing to accommodate the curve of the rock. If your rock is larger, you can increase another round.

Round 3: dc in next 5 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 6 stitches, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Skip two stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 4: dc in next 4 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 5 stitches, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Place the cover around the rock, skip 2 stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.



You will now be crocheting around the rock, decreasing each row to fit the rock. Crocheting directly onto the rock will take some practice; watch your tension to make sure your stitches are not too tight, but not too loose either. Sorry if this is vague, but it will make sense as you work each round.

Round 5: dc in next 3 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 4 stitches, chain 1; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 2 stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 6: dc in next 2 stitches, chain 1. *skip next two stitches, dc in next 3 stitches; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 2 stitches and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 7: dc in next stitch. *skip next stitch, dc in next 2 stitches; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 1 stitch and slip stitch to first dc. Chain 2.

Round 8: *skip 1 stitch, dc in next stitch; repeat from * to end of row. Skip 1 stitch and slip stitch to first dc. Fasten off and weave in tail.



Step 2

Using brown crochet thread, decide where you want your branch to begin and slip stitch to the edge of the white cover. Make a chain long enough to reach the other side of the rock, slip stitch to anchor "branch", taking care that the chain is long enough that it doesn't pull the two sides together, but not too loose either.

Anchor the branch with one more slip stitch just above the first slip stitch, then single crochet (sc) to the middle of the branch.



To "branch off" original branch, make a chain long enough to fasten to the edge of the rock cover, anchor with a slip stitch. Anchor again with a slip stitch just above the first slip stitch, and single crochet back to the middle of the branch.

Single crochet along original branch to the beginning of the original chain. Slip stitch to cover and fasten off. Weave in tails.



Step 3

Using red or burgundy crochet thread, you are now ready to make the "berries". I made five.



Chain 2, work 6 sc in the second chain from hook. Slip stitch to first sc.

2 sc in each stitch, slip stitch to first sc. Fasten off and cut thread, leaving a 3-4 inch tail.



Arrange the berries on the rock where you would like them. Using the tails of each berry and a crochet hook or tapestry needle, fasten the berries to the branch or the edge of the cover, and to another berry. Each berry will be fastened in 4 or 5 places, depending on location. Fasten off tails on the backside of the berries and weave in ends.



If anyone makes a rock cover using this tutorial, feel free to leave feedback. I always get so nervous writing up instructions and I want to make sure this tutorial is a) correct and b) user friendly. I'd love to see your creation too. If you're so inclined, upload a photo to the Covered Stones pool on Flickr.

As if this post isn't long enough, here's a picture of snow covered winter berries in our backyard.



We get snow once or twice a year, and each time I am overwhelmed by the beauty of our home and neighborhood under a cloak of white snowflakes. Snow is truly transforming. More snow pictures on Flickr.